Pile driver



March 12,1940. w; H. NICHOLS PILE DRIVER 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 11

March 12, 1940.

W. H. NICHOLS TILE DRIVER Filed Aug. 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 wu mmW/wAM/iMmaZw March 12, 1940. w NICHOLS 2,193,293

FILE DRIVER Filed Aug. 11, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet :s I

March 12, 1940. w c o s 2,193,293

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2 M w 2 Z n\ s 1 villlllll W, MW l I M w u I 1. am U y a 2] mm W/LLMM hfMa/ou Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pile drivers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pile driver whichis arranged to ride on the railsof the usual railway track and which isparticularly adapted for use in driving piling into the road bed toreinforce and strengthen the same.

An important object of the invention is to provide. an improved piledriver arrangedto travel along. an ordinary railway track and being soconstructed that it may be quickly and easily removed from the track topermit passage of trains, or othe-rtrafiic; the construction of thedevice being such that it may be moved oi? the track by its own power,thus eliminating the necessity of providing an auxiliary motor or engineforthis purpose. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a comparatively lightpile driving device for driving piling into the road bed of a railroadand constructed to travel along the track, the device including hammerleads, which when in a vertical position, are located to drive a pileadjacent the ends of the railroad ties so as to properly brace andstrengthen the road bed; such arrangement eliminating the necessity ofconstantly adjusting the leads in a vertical plane to properly drive thepiling.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved piledriving device, which is simple in construction and cheap inmanufacture, and which is arranged to travel along the track of arailway, said mechanism including hammer leads which are mounted toswing so that the upper ends of said leads may be lowered to permitpassage of the device beneath bridges, or other structures spanning thetrack.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for drivingpiling into the road bed of a railway and adapted to run on the track ofsaid railway, said device including hammer leads rotatably mounted onthe device, and a single power unit for operating the hammer and alsofor driving the device along the traclnas well as for moving said devicefrom the track and returningthe same thereon when necessary.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pile drivingdevice for driving piling into the road bed of a railway which operatesat a comparatively high speed, and which is provided with shockabsorbing means for preventing vibratory destruction of the device, dueto shocks caused by the rapid operation of the hammer. H

A construction designed to carry out the in Vention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pile driving device constructed inaccordance with the invention, showing the lowered position of theleadsin dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, showing the device inposition for removal from the rails,

Figure 3 is .a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1,

Figure 4. is an enlarged plan view of the lower deck and car,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional View of thelower ends of the leads, and showing how the power unit moves the devicefrom the railway track,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view taken throughthe king pin showing part of the driving mechanism,

Figure '7 is a View, taken at right angles to Figure 6, showing furtherdetails of the driving mechanism,

Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation of the hammer shock absorbing spring,i

Y Figure 9 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly insection showing the shock absorbing mechanism for the cable drum drive,

Figure 10 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the parts shownin Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a vertical, sectional View, taken on the line ll-Il ofFigure 9,

Figure 12 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section of amodified form of the invention, and

Figure 13 is a plan view, partly in section of the modification. shownin Figure ,12.

In the drawings, the numeral 20, designates a truck or carriage, whichhas a general rectangular shape and which" may be constructed of anysuitable material. The truck. is formed with a depending marginal flange21] extending completely therearound. Bearing supports 2i are fastenedto the underside of the carriage or truck 1 and front and rear axles arejournaledin said supports. Flanged wheels 22 are secured. on the axlesin the usual manner and these wheels are arranged to ride on the usualtrack rails A of .5

a railway, whereby the truck is supported on and movable along saidtrack.

A sub-frame 23 is mounted to rotate on the truck 23 and as is clearlyshown in Figure 6, said frame is provided with a central opening 24which is in vertical alignment with a similar opening 25 in the truck. Aking pin 26 having an annular flange 26' at its upper end extendsdownwardly through the openings. 24 and 25. The flange 26' overlies andis fastened to the I sub-frame 23 while the lower end of the king pin isrotatable within the opening in the truck, whereby the pin serves toprevent lateral displacement of the frame with relation to the truck.

For rotatably supporting the frame on the truck, a plurality of rollersZ? are mounted in hangers 28 depending from the underside of thesub-frame, and these rollers ride on the upper surface of the truck 23.It will be obvious that with this arrangement, the sub-frame may bereadily rotated on the truck, the frame rotating on the king pin 23which provides an axis. It is noted that the weight of the frame iscarried by said rollers.

A horizontal supporting plate or deck 23 forms the top of the sub-frameand, as is clearly shown in Figures 6 and '7, the deck overhangs thetruck or carriage 23. The sides of the frame 23 are braced bylongitudinal channel bars 33 which are suitably fastened beneath theoverhanging deck to the sides of the sub-frame. The bars reinforce andstrengthen the frame and are connected at their rear ends by atransverse channel bar 3!. A similar transverse bar 32 is securedbetween the side bars 33 near their forward ends (Figure 6). It is notedthat the ends of the bars 33 extend forwardly from the bar 32 and thisprojecting portion of the bars has the flanges of the bars cut away,whereby extending arms 30 are formed.

' The pile driving mechanism is mounted or supported on the deck 29, aswill be explained. Since the deck forms a part of the sub-frame, it isobvious that said deck is rotatable with relation to the truck orcarriage 23. Therefore, when the truck is supported on the rails A, thesub-frame and deck may be rotated to any desired position. The rotationof the sub-frame is accomplished manually for it has been found that theprovision of the rollers 2'? make for easy rotation thereof.

A pair of hammer leads 33 are mounted on the forward end of the deck 29and extend upwardly some distance thereabove. The leads are spaced fromeach other in the usual manner, being connected together by Ushapedstraps or braces 34. For securing the leads to the deck and said frame,the lowermost strap 35 is extended so as to be disposed between a pairof vertically extending channel bars or posts 35 which bars have theirlower ends riveted or otherwise secured to the side bars 38 of thesub-frame. A transverse pin or rod 3'? passes through the vertical bars36 and through the strap 35, as is clearly shown in Figure 3, wherebythe lower end of the hammer leads 33 are pivoted on the bars 33. Whenthe hammer leads are in a vertical position the lower ends of said leadsextend downwardly between the extended bars or arms 30 of the side bar33, and to hold said leads in such vertical position a plurality ofbolts 38 may be passed through the arms 33 and through the hammer leads33. It will be obvious that when the bolts are secured to the leads andarms 33, the leads will be fastened in a vertical position. For furtherbracing the leads in their vertical position, an inclined brace bar 33extends upwardly from the deck 23. The upper end of this brace bar issecured by bolts 43 to an elongate bracing member 4!, which member hasits upper end pivoted in ears 42 extending rearwardly from the upper endof the leads 33. As clearly shown in Figure 1, when the bracing memberis bolted to the bracing bar 39, the member and bar form an elongateinclined brace which connects the deck 23 with the upperend of the leadand serves to reinforce and add rigidity to the leads when in theirvertical position.

When it is desired to swing the leads from their vertical position, itis only necessary to remove the bolts 38 from the arms 33 and the lowerend of the leads 33. Then by removing the bolts Ml to disconnect thebracing member 4! from the bracing bar 39, the bracing member may beswung inwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Afterthis is done, it is possible to swing the upper end of the leadsrearwardly so as to overlie the deck 29. For supporting the leads whenswung to their lowest position, a rigid brace 39 extends upwardly fromthe deck 29 and acts as a support or rest for the leads (dotted linesFigure 1).

A suitable hammer 43 is slidable vertically between the leads 33. Thehammer is secured to one end of a cable 43 which extends upwardlybetween the leads and passes over a pulley 44 mounted at the upper endthereof. The cable 43 after passing over the pulley 44 extendsdownwardly and is wound around a drum 45 in the usual manner. The drumis supported on a transverse shaft 46 which shaft has its end journaledin bearing boxes M. Each bearing box is bolted on the upper surface of acover box 48 at one side thereof. The drum 43 is, of course, rotatable,and it will be obvious that as said drum is rotated, the cable 43' willbe wound or unwound therefrom to raise or lower the hammer 43 betweenthe leads 33. It is possible to connect the end of the cable 33 directlyto the hammer 43, but in order to reduce the shock or vibration duringthe operation of the hammer, I prefer to use a connection such as isshown in detail in Figure 8. This connection comprises a yoke 49 havinga ring 53 at its upper central portion to which the end of the cable 43is secured. The lower ends of the arms of said yoke are connected by atransverse plate 5! which plate is provided with a central axial opening5i. A pin 52 which is secured in the upper end of the hammer 43 extendsupwardly through the opening 5i and into the space between the yokearms. The extreme upper end of the pin has a plate 53 preferably madeintegral therewith, and a coiled spring 54 surrounds the pin 52, beingconfined between the plate 53 on the upper end of the pin, and the plate5! secured to the lower end of the yoke arm. With such arrangement, itwill be obvious that the connection between the cable 43' and the hammer43 is made through the coiled spring 54 which will serve to take up theshock as the hammer is operated.

For driving or imparting a rotation to the cable drum 45, a suitableengine or power unit 55 is mounted on the rear end of the deck 29 of thesub-frame. The power shaft 56 of this unit extends outwardly from oneside thereof and has a drive gear 51 fastened thereon. A drive chain 53passes over the drive gear 51 and also over an enlarged driven gear 59,which latter gear is keyed on the transverse shaft 46 (Figure 9). It isnoted that the drum 5 is not fastened or secured on the shaft 46 but ismerely rotatable thereon.

For imparting rotation from the enlarged driven gear 59 to the cabledrum 45, said gear has a circular disk or plate 60 secured to its innerface. A similar plate or disk 6| is spaced from the disk 80 and isfastened to the drum 45 by a sleeve 62 which is preferably made integralwith both the drum and disk. Therefore, it will be seen that when thegear 59 is rotated the plate or disk 60 willbe also rotated, as will bethe shaft 45 to which the gear is keyed or otherwise fastened.

For connecting the plates or disks 60 and 6|, whereby rotation of thegear 59 will cause rotation of the drum 45, the plate 60 is providedwith a plurality of blocks 63 which are disposed near the marginalportion thereof and which are fastened thereto. with similar blocks 64which are located so as to be spaced from the blocks 63, as clearlyshown in Figure 11. The blocks 63 ofthe disk or plate 60 and the blocks64 of the plate '5! are connected by a pin 65 which passes through saidblock. A coil spring 66 surrounds each pin and engages the blocks tohold the same separated.

With this arrangement, it will be obvious that as the gear 59 is rotatedto rotate the plate 60, a rotation will be imparted to the plate 6| bymeans of the coil springs 66. It will be obvious that the plates Stand5| together with their spring connection, provide a shock absorbingmeans whereby undue vibration in the cable drum 55 will not affect thedriving mechanism. A suitable control clutch may be connected in thepower unit. I i

From the above, it will be seen that the pile driving mechanism is allsupported or carried by the deck 29 of the sub-frame 23. Therefore,since the sub-frame is rotatable, it is possible to swing the leads 33to either side of the rail way track on which the truck 20 is supported.It is pointed out that the leads are extended or positioned from thecenter of the track so that when a pile is driven from between saidleads, that pile will enter the road bed at exactly the proper place.There is no need for adjusting the leads so as to properly position thepiling, because said leads are always in the proper driving position. Itis noted that the provision of the shock absorbing means permits thehammer to be operated very rapidly without any damage to the machinewhich is comparatively light in construction. The light construction, aswell as the minimum number of parts used, make for cheap manufacturingcoats in constructing a device of this character.

Any suitable means may be employed for driving the wheels 22 of thetruck to move the device along the railroad track A. However, I preferto employ a drive means such as is clearly disclosed in Figures 6 and'7. This drive means comprises a drive gear 6?, which is fastened on theextreme outer end of the drive shaft 56 of the power unit,

55. A drive chain 6'! passes over the gear 6'! and extends forwardly ofthe deck 29 to pass over a gear 68. The gee-r68 is fastened on a sleeve63 which sleeve is mounted to rotate in a bearing support 6Q extendingupwardly from the deck 29. The outer end of the sleevemay carry asuitable balance wheel It. The inner end of the sleeve 69 is keyed toone end of a transverse drive shaft H which extends above the deck 29and below the cover box 48 (Figure '7). The central portion of the driveshaft H is pro- The disk or plate BI is provided vi'ded with a pair ofbevelled gears 12 which are fastened on said shaft. It will be obviousthat motion is imparted to the gear 68 by the drive chain 61, androtation of the gear 68 will impart a rotation to the drive shaft llbecause said shaft is keyed thereto. The purpose of the key connectionbetween the end of the shaft H and the sleeve 69 is to permit a slidingof the shaft H transversely of the deck 29. For manually sliding theshaft a suitable pivoted lever 13 extends downwardly through the box 48and engages over said shaft between a pair of collars l4 thereon.

The bevelled gears 12 which are located at the midportion of the driveshaft H are spaced from each other and, depending upon the position ofthe shaft H, one or the other of these gears is in mesh with a bevelledgear 75. The bevelled gear 15 is fastened on the upper end of a verticalsub-shaft 16 which extends through the king pin 26 (Figure 7). The lowerend of the sub-shaft also carries a bevelled gear 1'! which is inconstant mesh with a bevelled gear l8 mounted on a shaft 79, which shaftis supported in hangers 80] depending from the underside of the truck28. A gear 8| is secured on the shaft 19, and a chain 82 passes over thegear 8! and around a gear 83 fastened on the rear axle of the truck 20.i

When the drive shaft H is rotated, rotation is imparted to the verticalsub-shaft 16 through the bevelled gears l2 and 15.

shaft 19 through the gears T7 and '18, and as the shaft l9 rotates itdrives the gear 8! which, in turn, drives the gear 83 on the rear axleby means of the chain 32. Rotation of the rear axle will, of course,turn the wheel 22 of the truck 20 to move the entire device along therails A. It is noted that by disengaging one of the pins 12 with thepinion 15 and engaging the other pinion therewith, a reverse. directionor drive of the rear axle of the truck may be had. By positioning thegear 72 on the drive shaft I! properly, neither of these gears willengage the gear l5 and when in this position, the device is stationary.It is again noted that the sliding or movements of the drive shaft H isaccomplished by means of the manually operable lever 13.

For moving the device off of the rails A of the railway track so as topermit the passage of trains, or other trail-lo, a longitudinal wheelsupporting frame Se ls secured to the underside of the truck 2i! at eachend thereof (Figures 2 and 4). A pair offlanged wheels 86 are mountedwithin each frame being rotatable on axles El. One of the wheels 86 ismounted at each end of the frame 85; By observing Figure 4 it will beseen that the wheels 85 are outside the plane of the supporting wheels22 of the truck, and the frame which supports each pair of wheels 8% isof such size; that the lower edge of the wheels 86 is in a plane abovethe bottom of the supporting wheels 22. With such arrangement when thesupporting wheels 22 are riding on the tracks A, as shown in Figures 1,6 and 7, the wheels 86 carried in the frames 85 are spaced some distanceabove the rails A. Outwardly extending flanges or supports 84 providedon the car 29 to accommodate jacks (not shown) for raising the car toplace auxiliary rails.

When it is desired to remove the device from v Rotation of the sub-shaftimparts a rotation to the horizontal the railway track, it is onlynecessary to raise ing wheels 22 are raised clear of the rails A. A pairof rails 38 are then placed beneath the wheels 86 as is clearly shown inFigure 2. These rails are, of course, located at a right angle to therails A because of the disposition of the wheels 86 with relation to thewheels 22. After the rails 88 have been placed beneath the side wheelsit is only necessary to roll the truck body 29 sideways along the rails88 and thus, the entire device will be removed from the railway track.

Any suitable means may be employed for moving the device along theauxiliary removal rail 88, but I prefer that the power unit 55 of thepile driver be utilized in performing this operation. In using the powerunit to move the de vice along the rails 88, the hammer 52 is dropped toits lowermost position at the ends of the leads 33. A removal cab-1eill] has one end passed over a hook 99 provided on the hammer #33 andits other end extends downwardly around an idler pulley as which ismounted on the underside of the channel bar 32 which connects the twoside bars 30 of the subframe 23 (Figures 5 and 6). After passing overthe idler ill the cable is passed around a pulley 92 which is mounted inbrackets $3 located at the mid portion of each side of the truck body20. After passing around the pulley 92 the other end of the cable issuitably fixed to a stationary post which is driven in the ground at apoint spaced from the machine, or other fixed means not shown. I

It will be obvious that after the rails 88 have been placed undervthewheels 85 and the cable as arranged as above described, an upward pullon the hammer it will cause the truck 28 to be pulled along the railsE8. The hammer is, of course, raised by rotating the cabled drum Q5 bymeans of the power unit 55. It is noted that after the device has beenremoved completely from the rails A by having been moved along the rails88 a, suiflcient distance, the rails A are clear to permit the passageof trains or other traffic therealong.

There are two pulleys 92 provided, one on each side of the truck body20, as clearly shown in Figure l. Therefore, when it is desired toreplace the device upon the rails A, it is only necessary to rotate thesubframe 23 so that the leads 33 are swung to the opposite side of thetruck 20. The cable 39 is then passed around the pulley iii and theopposite pulley $72, the outer end of the cable being fastened to asuitable fixed point. Lifting of the hammer will then pull the devicealong the rails 38 in a reverse direction and it will be obvious thatthe supporting wheels 22 may again be positioned over the rails A of therailway track. After this is done, it is only necessary to jack up thetruck 20 a sufficient distance to permit removal of the rails 88, afterwhich time the truck is lowered so that the supporting wheels 22 againengage the track rails A.

From the above, it will be obvious that a pile driving mechanism isprovided which is very simple in construction and cheap in manufacturingcost. The hammer leads 33 are so positioned that they will properlydrive the piling on either side of the railway track so as to properlyreinforce and brace the road bed. The power unit 55 not only operatesthe hammer at a very rapid rate, but also drives the supporting wheels22 so as to move the entire device along the railway rails A. The hammermay be operated at a comparatively high speed without danger of damagingthe light construction of the device because of the provision of theshock absorbing means. As the device is moved along the railway track,the leads 33 may be moved to their lowest position as shown in dottedlines in Figure 1, which will permit said leads to pass beneath bridgesor other spanning structures along the track.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of the sidewheels 86 which are mounted in a fixed position on the truck body.Normally these wheels are raised or spaced from the rails A so as not toengage the same. When it is desired to remove the device from the railsA of the railway track, it is only necessary to raise the supportingwheels from the track and place the auxiliary rails 88 beneath the sidewheels 86. Then by connecting the cable 89 to the hammer as has beendescribed, the device may be quickly removed from the railway track. Itmay be just as quickly returned to the rails A after the train or thetraflic has passed. The particular construction which includes the sidewheels 85 makes for the quick and easy removal of the device from thetrack. This is important because in driving piling for the purposes ofreinforcing of the road bed, it is obvious that during the course of theday many trains may pass a given point. Therefore, the device must beremoved from the track each time such train approaches so as not tointerfere with the running schedule of the railroad. It has been foundthat with the arrangement herein set forth, the device may be removedand returned to the track within a very few minutes.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 12 and 13, in whichI have provided another means for moving the device from the track A.

A small independent drum is carried by a transverse shaft 96 which shafthas its ends journaled in bearing boxes ill. Each bearing box is boltedon the upper surface of the cover box QB in a central position betweenthe vertical braces 39' and the power unit 55. is suitably secured onthe shaft 96 and is connected by a chain 99 with another gear Hill onthe transverse drive shaft H. A suitable clutch mechanism lill isprovided on the shaft 95 between the drum 95 and the driven gear 538,whereby the drum may be controlled.

The cable 89 has one end secured to and wound around the drum 95 and itsother end extends outwardly over an idler pulley I62 which is mounted onthe transverse rod 31. The cable is then passed over the idler pulley9!, carried by the sub-frame 23, as has been previously described. Afterpassing over the idler 9| the cable is passed around the pulley 92,mounted on the truck body 20, and the end is suitably secured to astationary post, or other fixed means (not shown).

It will be obvious that, as the drum 95 is driven from the shaft 1 I,the device will be moved along the rails 88 in a manner similar to thathereinbefore described.

The feature of this modification is the provision of the independentdrum 95 which is driven directly from the transverse drive shaft ll,giving a more positive control than could be obtained when the cable waspulled by the hammer it, as previously described.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A railway pile driver, including a. truck hav- A gear 98 ing tractionmeans for engagement with the railway rails, a subframe pivoted to thetruck for horizontal movements, said frame having spaced extensions,vertical members rigidly secured to the leads to be swung downwardly, anupright brace member rigidly connected to and extending upwardly fromthe frame and disposed rearwardly of the leads, an inclined bracepivoted at its upper end to the upper end portions of the leads, meansto removably connect the lower end of the brace to the brace member,whereby upon removal of both of the said removable means, the inclinedbrace may be swung about its pivot toward the leads, and the latterswung downwardly about their pivot and with the inclined brace tooverlie the frame.

2. A railway pile driving mechanism, including a truck having tractionmeans for engagement with the railway rails, other traction meanscarried by the truck to engage rails disposed at an angle to the railwayrails whereby to provide for removal of the truck from the latter rails,a pile driver having ahammer mounted on the truck, means to propel thetruck along the removal rails, and means operated by movements of thehammer to actuate the propelling means to remove the truck from therails and to restore the truck to the railway rails.

3. A railway pile driving mechanism in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe means to actuate the propelling means is operated in reversedirections in accordance with, and by and upon, the reciprocal movementsof the hammer.

4. A railway pile driving mechanism in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe means to actuate the propelling means includes a cable with means toconnect same to the hammer at one end and having an intermediate portionengaged with the truck and its opposite end. anchored to a fixed pointlocated spaced from the truck, whereby upon movement of the hammer inone direction the truck will be moved off of the railway track and uponmovement in a reverse direction, the truck will be moved onto therailway track.

5. A railway pile driver, including a truck having traction means forengagement with the railway rails, a sub-frame pivoted to the truck forhorizontal movements, vertical members secured to the frame, pile driverleads spaced forwardly of the vertical members, means to removablyconnect the lower portions of the leads to theframe, means to pivotallyconnect the leads to the vertical members whereby to enable the leads tobe swung downwardly, a brace member rigidly connected to and extendingupwardly from the frame and disposed rearwardly of the leads, aninclined brace pivoted at its upper end to the upper end portions of theleads, and means to removably connect the lower end of the brace tothebrace member, whereby upon removal of both of the said removable means,the inclined brace may be swung about its pivot toward the leads, andthe latter swung downwardly about their pivot, and with the inclinedbrace to a position to overlie the frame.

6. A railway pile driver, including a truck having traction means forengagement with the railway rails, a pile driver having a hammer carriedby said truck, auxiliary traction means carried by the truck to engagerails disposed laterally of the railway rails, power means for actuatingthe first named traction means and hammer, and means for connection witha fixed point remote from the railway rails and having means forselective connection to the hammer or to the power means whereby saidtruck may be moved on said lateral rails and by said auxiliary tractionmeans to one side of the railway and restored thereto.

7. A railway pile driver, including a truck having traction means forengagement with the railway rails, a pile driver having a hammer carriedby said truck, means to pivotally mount the pile driver for swingingmovements, removable means to hold the pile driver against swingingmovements, auxiliary traction means carried by the truck to engage railsdisposed laterally of the railway rails, power means for actuating thefirst named traction means and hammer, means for connection with a fixedpoint remote from the railway rails and having means for selectiveconnection to the hammer or to the power means whereby said truck may bemoved on said lateral rails and by said auxiliary traction means to oneside of the railway and restored thereto, bracing means pivoted to thepile driver and disposed rearwardly thereof and in front of the powermeans and removable means to hold the bracing means against pivotalmovement, whereby upon removal of both of said removable means the piledriver may be swung to overlie the power means.

WILLIAM H. NICHOLS.

